Voluntary ban on postering in Limerick town for local elections run-in

A GROUP of councillors have signed up to a voluntary ban on posters ahead of this summer’s local elections.

The six members of the Newcastle West municipal district believe there is no need for posters and they approved the measure at a local area meeting.

The move has sparked calls for a ban on ‘mugshots on poles’ across the county, and the country.

In the final four weeks before polling day, would-be politicians are legally allowed to erect posters.

But former mayor, Cllr Michael Collins, who is based in Newcastle West, believes there is longer a need for posters given the amount of targeted online advertising and advertising in the print media.

It will be the third election which he has contested where he hasn't erected posters - the last time he did so being back in 2014. “It's voluntary, it’s not enforceable. But what I and my council colleagues will be asking is for every councillor and candidate not to poster in the interest of not littering as that's what they are - they are plastic,” he said.

Cllr Collins also praised the work of Tidy Towns volunteers, and feels that people postering ahead of the election on Friday. June 7, would be the equivalent of “giving them the two fingers.”

“Now with the advent of social media and the print media who have always been good with candidates and councillors, we shouldn't need to be postering to get elected,” he said.

A number of years ago, he sought to have the poster ban introduced across the whole county.

But he could not get the proposal through the full council.

The Newcastle West man acknowledged that some candidates might choose to ignore the voluntary ban.

“I certainly won't be breaking the ban. The general electorate can judge them. It’s something we should do all over the country, not just Newcastle West. They are a blight on the countryside. They are even a bigger blight if there is bad weather,” said the Fianna Fail man who believes his vote has not been impacted by a lack of posters in the 2019 local election and 2020 general election.

READ MORE: Elections 2024: Date confirmed for Limerick to go the polls in June

His constituency colleague, Cllr Liam Galvin of Fine Gael said he is “100% supportive” of the voluntary poster ban,
“Long gone are the days when we need posters to advertise ourselves. Social media has changed the way of politics forever.

There is no need to put up posters at election time. If you need to put up posters at election time to be known, then you have a bigger problem,” he claimed.

“Tidy Towns are doing huge work throughout the county, city and nationally. If you get a bad week or a bad night’s storm, most of those posters are going to be blown around the streets and the countryside, cable ties left on poles, and there is nothing more unsightly,” added the Abbeyfeale member.

He also said that Tidy Towns volunteers have praised the stance taken on posters in the Newcastle West district.